No buy or low buy 2023

[TheOGCCL]

Starting a new thread for the new year. I really must do better. Pretty sure I am in need of nothing after my 2022 spending spree.

Ironically I think this board sets me off a bit.

I’m better with a blanket no spend but how dull. Still thinking about my ‘rules’, eg set a budget or an item limit.

I need to avoid the sales as many mistakes happen there.

All welcome who want to cut down for environmental or ethical or financial reasons, or simply the satisfaction of buying second hand, or the ease of getting dressed when you have less stuff.

I can recommend Lauren Bravo’s book How To Break Up With Fast Fashion.

Its a bit like eating meat, if we all collectively did it a bit less, the world would be a better place.

have avoided any sales purchases apart from a few pairs of new leggings from sweaty Betty from brandalley. Was pleased to find them for 1/2 price.

have kick started a new gym habit with minimum of 3 classes per week plus a yoga session & needed more kit.

January is almost always the biggest shopping month for me, as I usually do buy things from the sales - but I buy things I've been watching for a bit, and which have then been reduced. A wishlist helps me keep my head screwed on when I browse.

My wishlist for 2023 includes:

• A v-neck or scoop neck black tee to replace an old one - I've actually bought this already
• Denim jacket. My old one is 15 years old and worn through in the arm pits. It's an absolute staple for me, so I'll definitely prioritise getting one
• Few very light-weight summer tops - I used to have a pretty white broderie anglaise top, as thin as spiderweb, but it got all yellowed and gross over the years, so I'm looking for a replacement. Plus maybe a linen button-down shirt or a blouse. Both in light colour
• a sundress - something mid-length, cotton, strappy, for the really hot summer days. I really need to clear out dresses as most of my summer dresses are stupidly quite thick fabric
• Trainers in a bit of a funky colourway for every day use. My white ones are really really tatty
• New Pyjamas - this is not really a need, more of a want - I'd like a long-sleeve set. I have two, but I love nice pyjamas. This is at the bottom of the eish list though
• A brown/beige rollneck cashmere jumper. I think I'll wait for next autumn with this one now.
• Black slim ankle boots, maybe chelsea boots. Ditto wait till next autumn now
• Woollen blazer. This is an expensive item, and I have a cheaper black blazer in the cupboard. I am going to style the existing one first a few times, to see if I like using it before I invest in a more expensive one.

OK that seems long but I guess it's only ten items. I hope I can find the perfect version of each - the t-shirt I am already v happy with

Some fantastic and inspiring posts on this thread. A wishlist is a great idea as I'm guilty of falling down the 'it's in the sale so I'll get it' rabbit hole without considering how it will fit with other existing items in my wardrobe.

I took a bag of mine and DH's stuff to the charity shop yesterday which is always freeing IMO! My new smaller TRIPP travel bag came yesterday and after some consultation with DH I've decided to keep it (I'd already got the larger size) so that we've got a matching set, and charity shop my old one.

Things on my wishlist are

• a pair of black suede low block-heeled sandals
• a pair of navy ballet pumps and/or a pair of flat navy sandals
• a lightweight jumper in mustard or gold
• a pair of heeled knee-length black suede boots

And that's it at the moment!

I have bought nothing in the sales - that's unheard of for me. I've tried to avoid looking but had a wobble and checked the Hush sale and nearly bought a skirt but remembered I no longer work and there are very few occasions I would wear it.
My mantra is buy for the life you actually lead not the one in your head

Treated myself to a Michael Kors handbag - I'm changing my bags from arm to over body now I push a pram and it'll be a good addition.

So I bought some t shirts. Don’t think they belong in style and beauty because they were £5 each from Amazon🤪🤣

They are quite nice plain t shirts though and definitely needed. I had a £20 voucher gifted to me so they cost me £20 for 8 t shirts.

Apart from that I’m not spending. It feels doable at the moment.

Today is my payday and for the first time I can remember, I had quite a substantial amount left in my everyday spending account before it was topped up! I was able to tip some into savings. Feeling very motivated to keep going.

Well done. That’s great motivation.

I was doing ok but then booked a cheap family Easter holiday but that is better than buying more unnecessary clothes to squeeze into a bulging wardrobe.

I am finding it very very hard not to buy clothes though if I’m being honest. Is anyone else finding it this hard?

Not yet, but I think I'll struggle as the weather warms up. I've dumped a lot of t-shirts and I'm not feeling particularly well put together in the cheap ones I have, but I hate spending more than a tenner on a summer top. Dilemma.

I’ve not got anything in the sales other than the one item which was on my wish list and I got at the start of the month. I’m being bombarded with emails but finding it easy so far to resist - I really don’t need anything and if I don’t browse, I find I don’t want anything new either.

What’s helped is I had a clear out for eBay/charity shops and it’s helped remind me (a) how many clothes I have and (b) how much I spent! It’s been a good motivator to not want more.

As I was sorting things out, I found a jumper I like the style of (and is good quality) but not the colour so going to try dying it. Think I can probably get some ‘new’ clothes from my existing by dying/mending/adapting things. I also found something else which I’d wear more if it had a tweak to how it fits so going to take that to the tailor this weekend.

I’ve also just got Style Book - an app which helps organise your wardrobe/create new outfits etc. I just need to spend time cataloguing everything though, as you need to take photos of what’s in your wardrobe - it’s a bit time consuming!

Lastly! I created a note on my phone to log what I’m buying this year. Hopefully that’ll keep me accountable, and remind me how much I’m spending. I can also compare it to my wish list at the end of the year - hopefully qvoig

*hopefully avoid any impulse purchases!

There is a you tuber called Signe from Denmark that does fashion consultancy video with less items her channel is called "use less"

What’s helped is I had a clear out for eBay/charity shops and it’s helped remind me (a) how many clothes I have and (b) how much I spent! It’s been a good motivator to not want more.

Yes, same. Ive listed some things on eBay and might try Vinted at some point. I only usually buy from there.

@Wiennetta I also got Style Book. I thought listing things on it in the evenings, rather than browsing clothing brands, would help reduce my purchasing. Not sure it’s worked so far, as I have bought quite a bit in the sales 😳 Maybe when I get more of my stuff listed and I can see that I have 1000 dresses/tee shirts/pants etc, it will 😲

My situation is not helped by having taken-up dressmaking a year ago. It’s a lovely hobby, creative, peaceful, very mindful, but fabric is not cheap and it’s increasing the number of clothes I have even more. I do buy dead stock fabric that would otherwise end up in land fill though!

@Chasedbythechaser very difficult. We're halfway through January and I must have bought things 5 times already 🙈.

I've bought 8 pairs of socks this time, but I do need winter socks so it was a considered purchase. I bought a couple of other non-clothing items from the same place, both will be very useful but one wasn't really needed more of a nice-to-have.

What I didn't buy was an outfit that I saw one item, fell in love with the colour, found matching things to wear with it...and then put it all back because every single item had a minor imperfection (for me, nothing actually wrong with them) and I could see the folly in buying imperfect clothes when I already have plenty of perfect ones at home. Last year I'd have instantly bought it with no further thoughts on the matter.

Well done @IndianSummer78

I'm doing pretty well. My mascara ran out so I bought mascara.

Other than that it's just been grocery shopping and some of that spending has been thwarted by empty supermarket shelves.

The freezer is half empty now, and the food storage cupboard is visibly emptier so I can see I'll have to restock at some point but trying to hang on until next month and just buying what fresh stuff I need to turn the staples I've got into meals.

I'm returning the boots I ordered. They didn't fit quite right and they were very warm. My feet were overheating when I tried them on. I may still get rid of the old ones though as they're quite past it. Can I live without boots though? Possibly.

The bad news is that the dress is lovely so am keeping it.

I bought some new trainers - I needed some black ones for work. I've noticed everyone else wearing them at work instead of work shoes and I'm thinking I'm going to follow suit.

I meant to say, they are Allbirds shoes - made of wool and a somewhat sustainable shoe so I'm still following my no fast fashion rule for 2023.

Joining today.

My (planned) January sale shopping window is now closed and I'm committed to austerity until my birthday in the summer. Anything I want now will have to go on a wishlist.

@Wiennetta and @AnnieSnap I'm interested to hear how you get on with Stylebook. I'm on Android and have just got started on Whering. I used Your closet for 3 years and got so much value from it. It really did help me to appreciate what I have and use it creatively. I like Whering so far- the tags & lookbooks are good. I wish they did more and different stats though...

@CoraggioCara like you with Whering, Stylebook is helping me to appreciate what I have. I still spend too much, but it has stopped a couple of purchases in January (I’ve only had it a few weeks). I expect it will save others as I gradually upload my wardrobe.

Hope everyone’s holding fast. I’ve still not bought anything for myself - just a few bits for the kids and home. I’m tempted almost daily though. Throughout 2022 I’ve gotten used to browsing for beauty products and sales.

It helped that yesterday a relative gifted me a set of Jo Malone candles which she didn’t want!

I have managed to not buy a few things, but it did occur to me that my old Toms need binning and they'll be more money in April. So I got some brand new boxed ones for £14 on Vinted, having sold a Fossil bag on there for £15 this week. I don't feel so bad when it's 1 in 1 out for something like that (they are my work summer shoe) and it won't come out of my bank account!